Veterans Honored During Kickoffs to Disney Holiday Season by SYLVANIA, Siemens and Albertsons
(November 9, 2012) Siemens is pleased to announce its SYLVANIA lighting brand will help launch the Disney holiday season by honoring two military families for their service. With the help of SYLVANIA, the families will spark holiday cheer as they light the "it's a small world" attraction at Disneyland and "The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights" at the Disney's Hollywood Studios in a dazzling display of lights and music. The Southern California supermarket chain Albertsons was instrumental in helping select one of the families who are being honored.
"The brave men and women of the United States Military are the very core of this nation's strength, and we thank them for their service," said Rick Leaman, president and CEO of the Siemens lighting unit, OSRAM SYLVANIA. "We deeply appreciate their service and dedicate these opening ceremonies to those protecting our country here and abroad."
The "it's a small world" attraction was originally created for the 1964 New York World's Fair as an exhibit that would benefit UNICEF, which is dedicated to the welfare of children all over the world. The attraction moved to its Anaheim home in 1966. Considered a quintessential Disney theme park experience, "it's a small world" is now found at five Disney theme parks on three continents and features more than 300 audio-animatronics figures representing the happy spirit of children from more than 100 countries across the world.
On November 9 at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Army Staff Sergeant Hector Bonilla and his family will be honored for their military service as they help kick off the "Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, presented by SYLVANIA." The attraction features millions of choreographed "dancing" lights that present a medley of holiday music every 15 minutes, courtesy of SYLVANIA, Disney and more than 400 dimmers and controllers.
Having served two tours of duty in Iraq in 2003 and 2011, Bonilla is an U.S. Army active reservist with the 143rd and is also a Winter Park police deputy in central Florida. Surrounded by his wife and two sons, Bonilla will flip the SYLVANIA light switch and watch as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights comes to life.
Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Mark Plummer of Palmdale, California understands the importance of protecting peace, as he and his brother immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Plummer, who received a Purple Heart for an injury sustained in 2005, served during multiple tours in Iraq and on the homefront as an instructor training new recruits. Plummer, who is currently transitioning back to civilian life, is still dealing with injuries sustained overseas.
On November 12, Plummer, with his wife and children, will flip the SYLVANIA light switch to illuminate the "it's a small world" attraction in a spectacular display of lights that will kick off the Disneyland holiday season. Plummer is a recipient of services from Operation Homefront, a non-profit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Albertsons is an OSRAM SYLVANIA customer and supporter of Operation Homefront. Albertsons turned to the non-profit to help identify one of their clients to be a part of the festivities.
"Albertsons strives to create strong and healthy communities, both in the food we provide to our customers, and the causes we support," said Dan Sanders, Albertsons President of Southern California. "Operation Homefront's continued dedication to providing assistance to the brave individuals of our armed forces exemplifies the true spirit of community, and we are proud to support them in this project."
-- Posted November 9, 2012